The Customary Laws of Marriage and Police

The Bhils are the largest or one of the largest tribe among the indigenous peoples of Indian sub continent. From the time immemorial they have customary laws which are governing the law and order situation in their ethic groups. Besides the marriage customary laws they have many more laws relating their day today social and cultural life. The Government of India too in the 5th and the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of the country provide several provisions safeguarding the indigenous people’s rights and directions to uphold them. But in the District of Jhabua we can see several polices cases harassing the tribe in the cases of elopement, abductions and settlement of marriages disputes in the police and courts. Due to this victimization the poor indigenous tribal who are mostly below poverty line have to pay off huge sums of the money to the police and court proceedings leaving them poor and impoverished as ever .

The customary Bhil law only for the marriage but in may more areas of social life should be respected. It will stop millions and millions of rupees from the tribe including in the other civil district going to the non tribal society leaving them poor as ever.

Conference on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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A conference was organized by Asian Indigenous & Tribal Peoples Network (AITPN) in New Delhi on the subject called National Institutions on the Rights of Indigenous People; on 18th and 19th of October 2008. It was attended by the Representatives of the Asian Countries who numbered around 40.

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In this conference the key note address was given by Prof. James Anaya who is a special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms of the Indigenous Peoples. The welcome address was given by Suhas Chakma on behalf of the organizers. Among the special speakers were Mr. Eugenio A. Insigne, Chairperson,  National Commission for Indigenous Peoples(NCIP), Philippines on the working of the NCIP, Mr. Arjune Limbu, Member of the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities, Nepal. Among the India delegates there were several representatives from Nepal, Burma, Bangla Desh, Philippines, etc.

The conference member comprised of many specialists especially from the side of law and expressed grave concerns for the maintenance and revival of the customary laws owing to which the indigenous peoples supper in the hands of Police, courts and other places. In this context several incidences we cited of the customary laws where indigenous people suffered as victims in the hands of administration. A more vital and broader forum is invited for the discussion of the topic in the context of national laws finding way and solution to provide relief and solutions in solving out the indigenous legal issues.

The two day conference ended with strong notes in looking into the matters related to the customary laws and humans rights issues in Asian countries affecting indigenous peoples.